Men’s National Program names 2017 Junior Development Squad

Canada’s men’s field hockey program has named an 87-player Junior Development Squad for the upcoming year as the junior men begin the journey to the 2020 Junior World Cup.

The athletes who make up the squad come from four provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. The roster includes eight athletes who represented Canada at the recent Junior World Cup in Lucknow, India. That list includes the likes of Jamie Wallace and Thomson Harris, who have also been named to the 2017 Senior Development Squad.

The squad has been selected after the completion of the Under-16 National Championships this past summer, and with input from both National and Provincial coaches.

“We’re working closer with our provincial partners to help grow the competitive depth of the program,” says Paul Bundy, who in addition to serving as the Assistant Coach of the Senior Men’s National Team, heads up the Junior National Program. “We’re sending a National Coach out to all the provincial trials to work with the coaches from the four respective provinces that contain our JDS athletes.”

The provincial alignment is part of a four-year strategy to grow the competitive depth within the country as Canada begins a new quadrennial leading up to the 2020 Junior World Cup.

There are plans to introduce Under-18 and Under-23 National Championships in Toronto this July, as well as for Canada’s juniors to host international matches following the conclusion of National Championships. More information with regards to these event will come at a later date.

2017 Junior Development Squad (Men)